Circuit interrupter



CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed March 1, 1922 1 2 WITNESSES: 19

INVENTOR 5K. 52% 0270 /7! [achho/z M Q Q BY v V/ a ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO H. ESCHEOLZ, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC &: MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01' PENNSYL- VANIA.

CHI QUIT INTERBUPTER.

Application filed March 1, 1922. Serial No. 540,184.

My invention relates to circuit interrupters and more particularly to means for controlling the formation of arcs that are established when an interrupter is opening and 5 to means for extinguishing such arcs.

In breaking circuits of high amperage, the interruption thereof is facilitated if a plurality of arcs are established between the relatively movable contact members. The

concentration of an are at a single point tends to overheat and cause a rapid deterioration of the contact members. This tendency towards concentration is present even though a plurality of arcing tips are provided in connection with eachof the contact members. Heretofore, no provision has been made to secure a temporary stability of arcs across such arcing tips, with the result that the arcing would usually take place across a single air of relatively movable tips.

One 0 the objects of my invention is to provide means for establishing a plurality of arc streams between relatively movable contact members and to insure the tempo- 2 rary stability of such streams.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the arcs that are formed may be more readily extinguished;

As shown in'the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of-a portion of a circuit breaker embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a view thereof in side elevation, and i Fig. 3 is a detail view of the main portions of a modified form of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2. v

The apparatus comprises a pair of conductor members5 and 6 having brush con- 10 tact members 7 and 8, respectively, that are' bridged by a movable contact. or bridging member 10 which is operated through the medium of a lifting rod 11. These portions of the apparatus may be of any standardtype.

The respective conductor members 5 and 6 support pairs of arcing tips 12 and 13,

through the medium of brackets 14, and 15 that are provided with arms 16 and. 17

The bridging member 10 supports two pairs of arcing tips 19 and 20, upon pivots 21 and 22, respectively, the arcing tips 19 and 20 being normally biased upwardly by resilient members 24 and 25, so that they may be maintained in engagement with the arcing tips carried b the conductors 5 and 6 until after the bridging member 10 has moved a predetermined distance from the stationary contact members 7 and 8.

The arms 16, that support the arcing tips 12, and the arms 17, that support the arcing tips 13, are respectively provided with iron collars 28. The members 28 serve to pro duce inductive reactances in the local arcing contact circuit and thereby increase the stored energy as well as the impedance of the circuits through the arcing tips 12 and 13, reslpectively.

s shown more clearly, in Fig. 2, the arcing tips 12 are connected in parallel, and the impedance created by the members 28 serves to insure an approximately equal current division between contact circuits preceding the arc formation. Upon separating arcing contacts, the stored energy and impedance of. each parallel arcing circuit will insure sufiicient stability temporarily in each arc to substantially maintain the initial current division secured in the arcing circuit.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3, the arms 16 and the iron collars 28 are omitted. In this latter construction, the brackets 14 and 15' are'severally provided with a pair of curved portions 30 through which current flows to a pair of arcing tips 32 that co-operate with a pair of arcing tips 33 carried by the bridging member 10.

The loops 30 function in somewhat the same manner as do the members 28, in that they provide an impedance whereby the cu rent through the parallel-connected arcing tips 32 is equalized. They also perform a further function in that the flow of current through such loops and the arcing tips 32 and 33 traverses a return path, thereby setting up a. magnetic field between the upwardl directed portion 0-; the loops 3D and the a jacent faces of the contact members 32 and 33 and exercising a biow-out etl'ect on arcs that m be f rmed between the arcing tips 32 an 33.

. It will be understood that, in Fig.

- revel sheet =-,.1y'- substantially 'onehelf of the apparatus, the other half being the same as that shown in Fig-,fl, except for the too ed conductors 30.

ft will also be understood that an end view, looking from the right of Fig. 1,.will

' be identical with thelview of Fig. 2, and

theta. view from either end of Fig. 3 would also be substantially identicei with, that of heferring again- Figs. lend 2, upon the separation of the arcing tips 19 from the arcing-tips 12, ior'esample, nrcs will be formed, and, by reason of the resence of members ZSWhIch'eqneiiZe the ow oi cor rent through theztips '12, the two arcs will f m'eintemed tor snbstentieliy the seine period-end will be extingnishedet substen the-same instant. A

it Wiilbe clear that, in the 3' the eras-ere maintained in substantially device ofFig.

- t eseme manner as in the device of Bi 2,

time are, in addition, the magnetic fie], set

Q tip between the; loops 3O endthe ercs adje the e.'= 1v 1 Verions modifications may be inede in the device, sfich es by emplo more then two sets crfercing tips eteech side of the apps 1 vitcieinn esm '51. The comblnetioniwith e.

tionery contact :u, ,inei'nber therefor,- of e. pair; of arcing tips cent thereto will exercise a blOvr-out- -efiect moon the arc end wiil'sssist in gmshing invention peir of sit here and e bridging connected to eech of the said contact men loers, two pairs of arcing tips cerried by the bridging member in position. to co operete with the first mentioned I; ercingtips, end

impedence meens esch 'oiithe firstzmentioneci ercing-tip circuits for eqnehz n'g the 1 currents treversing the same;

e. e combination with e: e s-eetionery contactv members d e brid member thereior of 2. pair oi jercing tips connected to each of the said contactmem- V bars, two peirs of arcing tips carried by "the bridging memberin 'position to co-oper- 'ing the arcing tips. 1 4

The COHlblDfltlOIl. wit a" pair of staetc with the-first mentioned ercing'tips, and

means for equalizing the currents traverse 'inione'ry contact members and e bridging Ameinber therefor, of ye pair of arcing tips connectedto each of the said contectmemhers, two pairs of arcing tips carried by the bridging member in position to cooperate the first mentioned ercingtips, and

inductive circuit associated with one of f eechtivo cooperating arcing tips. I 4. The-:combmatlon'with a pair of stetionsry contest membersend e bridging sis-ember therefor, ofe pair of arcing tips connected. to each ofthe seid contact mem-.

bers, two peirs of arcing tips carried by the arcing tipscerried by one of said members end connected in parallel end means for equalizing "the currrent through the arcing es en ere blow vice associated with one of each two co-opersting arcing ti s.

'6. The combination, with a. plurality of stationery contact members that are connested in .parellel and e movable contact "member for engegement therewith, of e com- %bined arc blow-out end'impedence device associatedwith each of said stationery con tact members '7. The combination-with two relatively 'mov'abie main contact members, of e pair of ercing tips carried by one of said members end connected in parallel, and means for egueiizing. the; current through the ercing tips f movable mein contact members, of e pair of ery contact members and e ridging mem- Win it air of stetion 8: combination fiith "two r mhf' "fiber therefor, of e peir of arcing tips con- 7 n'ectedtoeech of the said contact members, twopairs oziiercing tipscerrie'd by the Tfbridgmg'inember in position to cooperate with the first mentioned crcin tips, end imedence means in each of the rst mentioned 'ercing-tip circuits for. meinteining equal current division therein.

10. The combinetion with-e pair of ste= 'tionery contact members and e bridging member therefor, of evpeir of arcing tips connected to each of the said contact memhers, two pairs of arcing tips carried by the -Lbridging'. member. in position to co-operate with the. first mentioned arcing tignfend energy-storage means in each of t e first mentioned-ercing-tip circuits for securing "temporary ere stability.

'tionerygcontect members and e, bridging .member therefor, of e peir ofercing. tips connected to each of the said contact memhers, tvvopeirs of arcing tips carried by; the

. bridging member imposition to cooperate with they first mentioned arcing tips, and

1 means for creating and maintaining equeiiof currents that traverse the arcing cation tips.

- tee -11. The combination with e; peir'of sterounding a lead to each set of arcing contacts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 1 1,. subscribedmy name this 15th day of Febru--" ary, 1922.

OTTO H. 'E'SCH'HOLZ. 

